California Qualifying Report

FONTANA, Calif., (Friday, Sept. 3, 2004) - Bobby Labonte qualified 37^th during Pop Secret 500 Bud Pole Qualifying Sept. 3 at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

Labonte turned a lap of 39.400 seconds, 182.741 mph in the No. 18 Wellbutrin XL Chevrolet.

We worked on race setup a lot in practice, Labonte said. Well work on the car tomorrow during Happy Hour and get ready for the race. Its a 500-mile race, and we didnt start up front in the spring and were running second on the last lap when we ran out of fuel. We still managed to finish fifth. So, weve got some time to work on it.

Raybestos Rookie Brian Vickers won the pole with a lap of 38.417, 187.417.

Labonte will start the Pop Secret 500 on the inside of Row 19 next to rookie Scott Wimmer. Labontes teammate, Tony Stewart, driver of the No. 20 The Home Depot Chevorlet, will start 33^rd after posting a lap of 39.300, 183.206. Rookie J.J. Yeley, who is driving a third JGR car this weekend, will start 32^nd in the No. 11 Vigoro/The Home Depot Chevrolet after turning a lap of 29.292, 183.243.

Earlier in the day, Labonte qualified 22^nd for the Target House 300 Busch Series race. He posted a lap of 40.221, 179.011 in the No. 18 Banquet Chevrolet.

The Target House 300 will start at 3 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 4 and be broadcast live on TNT and MRN. The Pop Secret 500 will start at 7 p.m. (EDT) Sept. 5 and be broadcast live on NBC and MRN.